Zuni 118 Vintage Zuni petit point cluster bracelet

Circa 1960’s Zuni Petit Point cuff bracelet. Set in the solid sterling silver with over 45 hand cut natural turquoise stones. Measuring approximately 2″ x 2″ for the center design with a tapering down to 1/2″. With 5-1/2″ of silver on the inside and a 1-1/2″ opening, this bracelet is on the larger size.

Petit Point jewelry refers to cluster-work that is made up of stones that are pear-shaped: oval on one end and pointed on the opposite. This type of work is typically made in round and oval designs, but other shapes are possible. This style is made the Zuni and Navajo tribes.

Combining many stones into one piece makes some of the most beautiful and exciting Native American jewelry.   Depending on how the stones are cut, this style of combining stones can be called Cluster-Work, Needle Point, Petit Point and Snake Eyes.  These four styles emerged in the early 1920’s-1940’s  and are primarily made by the Zuni Tribe, although some Navajos will make similar designs. These styles have a feminine quality to them, as the stones are set in small and elegant settings.

These designs are very tedious as each bezel (the silver holding the stone) is individually shaped and solder. Then the stones are cut, glued to matchsticks, then shaped and polished with a series of grinding wheel